Bomb rack



W. M. NEFF lan. s, 1946.

BOMB RACK Filed Oct. 17, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l me/Wto@ Willurd M. Neff'`W. M. NEFF Jan. 8, 1946.

BOMB RACK l Filed Oct. 17, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wiumd M- Neff PatentedJan. 8, 1946 UNITED STATES -PATENT OFFICE` BOMB RACK Willard M. Nei,Dayton, Ohio Application October 17, 1941i Serial No. 415,435

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 3700. G. 757) 7 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me ofany royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a bomb rack and more particularly to means forreleasing a plurality of individual bombs from an expendable unitaryrack designed to be accommodated without alteration in the demolitionbomb shackles of standard aircraft.

It is therefore an object of this invention to produce a releasing gearfor a plurality of individual bombs which permits them to be droppedeither in armed or safe condition from the shackles designed toaccommodate larger bombs and to accomplish such release without changein the present bomb releasing gear of the aircraft.

It is a further object to produce a multiple bomb rack which willrelease the individual bombs readily and dependably in armed conditionto allow each bomb to function as a unit.

It is a further object to provide a multiple bomb rack which whendropped in safe condition will maintain the rack and bombs together as aunit until the ground is struck.

The spcoic nature of the invention as weil as other objects andadvantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferredembodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bomb rack formed in accordance with myinvention, the bomb shackle and the individual bombs being shown indotted lines.

Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a partial cross section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 showinga modified form of band securing means.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of a. modigzd Iorm of release takenon the line 6-6 ci Figure "l is a cross section on the line 1-7 of Fig.6.

Figure 8 is a. longitudinal section of another form of release taken onthe line 8-8 of Fig. 9.

Figure 9 is a cross section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference Figure 1 shows abomb rack compris` IFig.A 5.

gaged between thel plates 8 and 9, will permit the ing a suspension barI, a center supporting bar 2 and spacer plates 3 adapted to properlyspace a plurality of individual bombs 4, shown in dotted lines. Thesuspension bar I is provided with lugs 5 for attaching the multiple rackto a known type of bomb shackle 6. The present invention relatesparticularly to the releasing mechanism for the individual bombs. Thepreferred embodiment of this mechanism is referred to generally as 'I inFig. l and is shown in more detail in Figures 2 to 4.

Each releasing device 1 comprises a pair of spaced plates 8 and 9 weldedor otherwise secured to the suspension bar I. Rotatably mounted on thesuspension `bar I between the plates 8 and 9 is a latch membercomprising a pair of spaced parallel bars IU and II secured to eachother by means of a bushing I2 rotatable on the suspension bar I.Aligned openings I3 are provided at least through the plate 9 and bar IIand preferably also through plate 8 and bar I9 in which a cotter pin I4may be secured to prevent relative movement therebetween during storageand handling. A similar opening I5 may be provided through the platesand bars to receive an arming wire I6 which may be inserted through oneor both plates and their cooperating latch bars prior to removal of thecotter pin I 4. As shown in Figures 2 and 4 one end of the bombretaining band I1 is provided with a loop engaging a pin I8 or similarmember slidable between the plates 8 and 9 and received therebetweenbehindl the latch bars I0 and II. The retaining band Il is passed aroundthe bombs in the rack and threaded into a slot I9 in the shank of a bolt20. A wrench may be applied to the head 2| of the bolt 2U and the boltrotated to tighten the band suiciently to hold the bombs firmly in placein engagement with the spacer plates. The nut 22 may then be tightenedto prevent reverse rotation of the bolt and hence secure the band underthe proper degree of tension. In some cases it may be desirable to use aslotted bushing 23 on the shank of the bolt 24 between the plates 8 and9 and thread the band I'I through the slot in the bushing into the slotin the bolt as shown in In this way the bushing 23, being enbolt 24 tobesecured much more tightly without deforming thefplates 8 and 9 to anextentsuiiicient to interfere with the free movement of the latch platesIlland II or pin I8.

As'many of the released' mechanism Vunits I as may be required to securethe desired number of groups of bombs may be mounted on the suspenwire'I6 will be withdrawn from the openirngsl5,V

The cotter pin I4 will, of course, have been removed subsequent to theinsertion of the arming wire and prior to release of the rack. l Thetension in the band and weight of the individual bombs 4 will cause thelatch=members-I0`and II to swing outwardly permitting withdrawalofz thepin I8 by the band and releaseof theindividual bombs. As the individualbombs!! fall away-rom the supporting bar 2 the arming vanes of earch f`bomb-will bel left freeto; rotate, thusfarminge theVindividual-fbomtbsrin flight. The'rack'wll falliree zandbe lost-.but asitis :ofasimple construction its floss-will be of less y consequence.tharriwouldybethe loss of time required lto t modify :the demolitionracks in the planejjproper to .permit-fdirectahandling iof. thef'small:bombs.

-When it-visdesired to-sdrop the,;bombs=in Asafe r"nclition aswhenmakingfafforcedf landing over -friendly .;territory, -fthe controlsof thebomb shackle may be operated in the knownmanner-to '1sin'iultaneously.VV release the; .lugst Stand-the armin g ,wireslIt.from"the-bomb;shacklei 6. .Thefassembly @willz thus drop' @sa :unit`with all .bombs retained f in safe condition.

. Inthe modified form of,.my.mvention.sliown in .Figures l,6 1.and l 7the release t mechanism, -rwhich may ,be ,seein-editovaassusi@ensiortloar .in-.any.con V.Venient manner, comprises La .llshaped .member ,275 having suitable .bearingsopenings .tthereinr forrotatably receivin-eea shaft-..26 to which .there is vmiesrally.attacheda; ratchet wheela21. @Bushings A,2 8 andllspacemh-eratchetswheel betweenrthe .arms .of .theU shaped member. A member, 3.0.,may jbe pini. connected.; to .sliaft.. 2 6.;.to,.allow. :the.,transmission r`of a fdriving torce ...tof .the ratchet.. Qne armrtof,then-.shaped member. 12 5 sextended as 1at3 I .(Figc 6) I.and .tl'1e.,0ther...arm .Ofthemember 251s, formed .with treeessesJZ adapted`.toreceive projectinglnarts 33 onsamembera -.A pawl; 35

. Spacedto, cooperate with the; ratchetggis pivotallymountedbetweenthe-extension" 3 I and ,mem-

ber'34and held in engagement p,with the ratchetby means of aspring 36. IOneendiofbtheibomb retaining .band 31 l is secured `in any l; convenient vrmanner toatnin;.38.received in suitable -recesses in the4members.' 3 I. and.34. Thelothenend of.the kband-.37. maybe led, .undera-.pn "39 andis .pro Y .vided with ahoolnlt, receivable-in .a recessjnjthe fao ratchetQZ'I. Thememberj34is,retainedinoDera- ...be withdrawnbytheV arminawire. 4. allowingrthe springiltb;imaelthememberl out ofengage- 'mcntwthlthenawl-anfdnnsi'zarrdlpermitting theratchet .torotate... releasing the hook :40 and 4releasing also theyothenennd'ofjtliebband whereby the bombs will .bepermtted Ytoifall freeY ofigthe Lrack.

. Inltheform of. mygnventon 'showninFjgureS '8 and 9 platemembersilieand'd,'of'L ashaped cross section, one of which may besecured to a suspension bar, are provided with separable interengagingmeans as at 4'I. Pins 48 and 49, provided with end portions of reduceddiameter, are engaged in openings in the lower portions of the platemembers and assist in spacing the plates as well as performing otherfunctions hereinafter `described. v'A lshaft 50i is rotatably mounted inthe upperportion of the'fplate members and constrained to rotatetherewith but permitted to A rim 52 on the member 5I is toothed to gagedbetween thepulley member and the plate neath the p -in149 and secured'ytotheperipheryof the pulley 5I by .a pin; 58;or.;other;'convenientmeans. The band may .-beproperlytensioned by rotation of theshaft 5I),the)pulley-memberibeing moved out of engagementfwith thernger'z-ftopermit such ro-tation. The -faces of,tlie' ;teethron 'therim 52:-andthevnger53 .may be so ground: as to cam the `pulley out of engagementionrotation 'in a direction to tension the band, whilefallowing squarefaces 'to engage tofresist: rotation in .the opposite direction.

` Upon .dropping ofL thelassembled bomb rack@ an arming vwire-55 -willwithdraw .thepin :55 permite Y ting .the springk S4-.to force theplates'apart: thus rack.

'.Iclaim:

1. M ea-ns to secure bombsgtoassuspensionffbar comprising a pair,ofplatesfadaptedtto' berxedly .secured to .said.suspension barin-spaCedzzpaT-llel relation .to Aeach other, a-.pair-fof'fspacedzparallel 45` latch bars vsvvingable i between said plates,H airiboltthrough said l`plates, ia .flexible fband itsecured rat oneendto saidbo-1t, amember slidable between Y said plates butengageablebyrfsaidlatchtbars, alignediholes infvsaid latch .bars and ;saidmlates,

and, an arming .wire insertedA throughssaidtiiolss to prevent swmging ofsaid latch'rbars relativeto sai.dplates saidiiexible band beingradapt'edto encircle the bombs .totbe securedfand passing ebetween said vlatch-bars .into 1-secured1ire1ation f with said slidable memberwherebyrthetband"mayibe released on withdrawalaof thorium-ing wire.

2. lThe bomb securing means described irnclaim 1, saldbolt having alongitudinal .slot in theft-shank thereof, the'bo'lt secured end of:said -band :being ,insertedthrough said slot wherebyfthe bandfmay betensioned'by rotation of the bolt.

. 3. The bombsecuring means described :in: claim l, abitshingonsaid.boltbetweenfsaidt iiiiedf` piates,

longitudinal slots in said bushingfand saidrbolt, the -bolt.securedendpflsaid.band being.-.threaded throughsa'cl slots. whereby,theband may beztensioned byrotation of the bolt and securedfbytighteninggttherbolt upon .tl'lenxed A plates'.topre- A'vent reverserotation of said bolt.

.4. `Releasablemeans .to;secure. bombatofa'susv-pe: 1s1on. .;member,.said.V means comprising 'a elevislike/member securedy.to,said.-:susnension. member,

one arm of said clevis being of greaterlengththan vthe other,ashaftfjournaledlin the armsofgsaid clevlsa ratchet wheeLsecured.onsaidgshafttbetween'the arms of said clevis, recesses formed near theend of the shorter arm of said clevis, an extension arm for the shorterarm of said clevis, said extension arm having projections engaging saidrecesses, a paWl for said ratchet rotatably supported between saidextension and the longer arm of said clevis, a spring constraining saidpawl to ratchet engaging position, a exible band adapted to encirclebombs, means supported between said extension and said longer armengaging an end of said band, means on the other end of said bandengaging said ratchet wheel, a Spring between said extension and saidlonger arm tendn ing to separate the same, a bolt through said eX-tension and said longer arm opposing separation thereof, an arming wire,and means on said bolt releasable by Withdrawal of said arming wirepermitting separation of said last mentioned arm and extension wherebysaid ratchet pawl and said band will be released.

5. Releasable means to secure bombs comprising a clevis-like member, aratchet Wheel journaled in said member, a pawl supported by said memberand engaging said ratchet, a flexible band adapted to encircle the bombsto be secured, one end of said band being supported by said member andthe other end of said band having hook means engaging a recess in therim of said ratchet wheel, an arming wire, and means actuated bywithdrawal of said arming wire to release said pawl and at least one endof said band.

6. Releasable means to secure bombs, said releasable means comprising aseparable clevis-like member, a toothed Wheel journaled in said member,means supported by the separable parts of said member engageable withthe teeth of said Wheel to selectively prevent rotation thereof, springmeans tending to produce separation of the parts of said member, aexible band adapted to encircle the bombs to be secured, means supportedby the separable parts of said member prior to separation thereofengaging one end of said band, means on the other end of said bandengaging the rim of said wheel to be tensoned by rotation thereof, anarming wire, and means released by Withdrawal of said arming wireopposing separation of the parts of said member Whereby said member Willbe permitted to separate and release said band on withdrawal of saidarming Wire.

7. Releasable means to secure bombs, said releasable means comprising aseparable clevis-like member, a shaft journaled in said member, a wheelrotatable with said shaft and movable longitudinally thereon, aprojection on an inner face of said clevis-like member, a toothedportion on said wheel engageable with said projection, a spring on saidshaft constraining said Wheel to projection engaging position andtending to separate said clevis-like member, an arming wire, meansreleased by withdrawal of said arming Wire opposing separation of theparts of said member, a pin engaged between the separable parts of saidmember and released by separation thereof, and a bomb engaging bandsecured at one end to said pin and at the other end to the periphery ofsaid wheel.

WILLARD M. NEFF.

